Instead of Energy Drinks, Try Ribose to Help You Keep Going

Q. The end-of-year holidays are a big deal in my family. Lots of get-togethers, decorating, cooking, and kids. It's fun but on New Year's Day, I'm so tired I collapse. This year, my daughter is getting married, too! I'm already exhausted but want to enjoy every moment. Will energy drinks help?
-- Marcia, Amherst, MA

A. Some college students think the most important discovery of the last decade was Red Bull. Uh, maybe not. Most of the effects of energy drinks come from two things: sugar and caffeine. Their boost is short-term; the combo lets you down fast, so you want another. And then another. That's why people get addicted to energy drinks.

Overloading on caffeine for energy could also backfire big time by throwing your nightly sleep to the winds. (Find tips and foods to help you sleep better.)

Instead of energy drinks, we suggest something entirely different: ribose. It's actually a sugar, but a different kind of sugar. Ribose is made in your body, where it's used to build key energy molecules. You can get it as a supplement. The most convincing evidence of ribose's ability to infuse energy is that taking daily doses of it gives a real boost to people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndromes -- diseases characterized by exhaustion. The only side effect of ribose is that some people feel too much energy.

To give ribose a try, we YOU Docs suggest starting with 500 mg three times a day for a week, (try mixing it into a smoothie or tea; it has a somewhat sweet taste), then go to 5 grams three times a day for three weeks, which should get you to the far side of New Year's Day. If you still need a short-term lift while things get back to normal, scale back to 5 grams twice a day. After that, get some rest! (This simple, easy-to-learn technique will help you nod off.)

Need even more help? Try these 8 natural energy boosters. They're proven to work.